Study Flashcards: Culture, Society, and Politics (Vocabulary)

A comprehensive set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering cultural identity, social structures, disciplines, theories, societal types, and human evolution based on the provided lecture notes.

Cultural Identity

Who we are based on traditions, beliefs, and cultural practices.

Cultural Awareness

Recognizing and respecting other cultures to avoid discrimination.

Cultural Background

One’s cultural upbringing influenced by family tradition, religious practices, etc.

Sex

Biological traits (male/female at birth).

Gender

Socially constructed roles and expectations assigned to men and women.

Sexuality

Orientation and preferences in attraction, either sexual or romantic.

Social Status

The level of prestige or respect given to someone.

Economic Status

Wealth, assets, education, and income determining economic position.

Citizenship

Legal membership in a state.

Ethnicity

Shared ancestry, language, and cultural heritage.

Food Taboos

Foods restricted or avoided for cultural or religious reasons.

Tambay/Istambay/Istandby

A person who has nothing to do or is jobless or lazy.

Political Dynasty

Families that dominate political power and positions.

Political Election

Citizens electing and voting for political leaders.

Texting

Widespread use of SMS (Short Messaging Service) as a primary communication tool.

Selfie Phenomenon

Cultural trend of taking and sharing photos of oneself on social media.

Anthropology

Study of humans past and present, including culture, language, and evolution.

Physical/Biological Anthropology

Studies human evolution, genetics, and physical traits.

Archaeology

Study of the past through artifacts and material remains.

Cultural Anthropology

Studies beliefs, traditions, and practices of people.

Linguistic Anthropology

Studies how language affects culture and society.

Applied Anthropology

Using anthropological methods to solve problems in health, education, business, or environment.

Political Science

The study of politics and governance.

Political Theory

Ideas about justice, rights, democracy, freedom, and power.

Comparative Politics

Comparing different governments and political systems.

Public Administration

How government operates and delivers services.

International Relations

Relationships between nations, organizations, and diplomatic efforts.

Political Methodology

Using research methods and statistics to study politics.

Sociology

Study of society, social relationships, and social interactions.

Social Organization

How groups and institutions are structured and function.

Social Psychology

How individual behavior is influenced by society.

Social Disorganization

Problems in society due to weak institutions or broken norms.

Demography

Study of population statistics: birth, death, and migration.

Applied Sociology

Using sociology to solve social problems.

Pre-Industrial Societies

Societies before machines/factories, reliant on nature.

Hunting & Gathering

Nomadic groups surviving by hunting, fishing, and gathering.

Pastoral

Domestication of animals with seasonal movement for grazing.

Horticultural

Small-scale farming with simple tools.

Agrarian

Large-scale farming producing food surplus using plows and animals.

Feudal Society

Society with lords and vassals/serfs; land determines power.

Industrial Society

Era of machines, factories, mass production, and urbanization.

Post-Industrial Society

Economy focused on services, knowledge, and information technology.

Modern & Virtual Societies

Online or digital communities formed through technology.

Culture is Learned

Culture is taught through socialization and enculturation.

Culture is Transmitted

Culture is passed from one generation to another.

Culture is Adaptive

Culture changes over time to fit different environments and reduce disrespect.

Culture is Gratifying

Culture provides ways to satisfy human needs.

Culture is Symbolic

Culture uses symbols with meanings (objects, words, etc.).

Non-Material Culture

Beliefs, values, norms, and other intangibles in a culture.

Beliefs

What is accepted as true or real within a culture.

Values

Standards of what is good, right, or desirable in a culture.

Norms

Standards of behavior expected in a society.

Folkways

Everyday habits with little punishment for deviation.

Knowledge

Skills and information passed on and applicable in real life.

Symbolic Interactionism

Theory that humans create meaning through interactions.

Dramaturgical Perspective

View of life as a theater where people perform roles for different audiences.

Functionalism

Society as a system where parts work together to maintain stability.

Ethnomethodology

Study of everyday routines people use to make life orderly.

Conflict Theory

Theory that power and resource inequalities shape society.

Stone Age

Early period of tool use; subdivided into Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic.

Paleolithic

Old Stone Age; nomadic hunter-gatherers with chipped stones.

Mesolithic

Middle Stone Age; transitional period with fishing and semi-settling.

Neolithic

New Stone Age; farming, permanent settlements, polished tools.

Bronze Age

Use of bronze for tools and weapons; growth of trade.

Iron Age

Stronger iron tools and weapons; expansion of empires.

Democratization

Spread of democracy; shift from monarchies to representative governance.

Enculturation

Learning one’s own culture from birth or upbringing.

Acculturation

Adopting traits of another culture when in contact.

Mores

Strong norms tied to morality; violations carry strong sanctions.

Laws

Written formal rules enforced by the government.

Ascribed Status

Status assigned at birth and not chosen.

Achieved Status

Status earned through effort and achievement.

Role

Expected behavior based on a person’s status.

Role Expectation

Societal expectations about how a role should be performed.

Role Performance

What a person actually does in a given role.

Role Conflict

Clash between two or more roles one holds.

Role Set

Multiple roles held at the same time.

Sanctions (Formal Positive)

Official rewards given by institutions for good behavior.

Sanctions (Formal Negative)

Official punishments imposed by authorities.

Sanctions (Informal Positive)

Social approval and praise from peers.

Sanctions (Informal Negative)

Social disapproval or exclusion from peers.

Deviance

Behaviors that violate social norms.

Social Pathology Theory

Deviance treated as a disease or illness.

Social Disorganization Theory

Deviance linked to weak institutions and broken norms.

Labeling Theory

Deviance depends on societal labels assigned to individuals.

Value Conflict Theory

Deviance arising from clashes between different value systems.

Relative Dating

Dating method that orders events but does not provide exact ages.

Absolute Dating

Dating method that provides exact ages or age ranges (e.g., radiometric methods).

Evolution

Process by which different living things develop from common ancestors.

Natural Selection

Survival of the fittest leading to trait propagation.

Adaptation

Trait development to survive in a specific environment.

Mutation

Random genetic changes that may affect survival.

Creationism

Belief that life and the universe were created by a divine being.

Hominoids

Group including apes and humans from the Miocene epoch.

Hominids

Great apes plus humans from the Pliocene epoch.

Hominins

Direct ancestors of humans (e.g., Australopithecus, Homo species).

Homo Habilis

“Handy Man”; early Homo with simple stone tools.

Homo Erectus

Early human species that walked upright and used fire and tools.

Homo Sapiens

Modern humans with advanced thinking, language, and culture.

Paleolithic

Old Stone Age; nomadic hunting and gathering society.